Harbor Springs deer to get contraceptives

HARBOR SPRINGS — City manager Tom Richards has found a way to help manage the deer population at the Harbor Springs Deer Park: to treat the deer with contraceptives — administered by dart.

Richards has been working with the Humane Society of the United States for a way to control the deer population in a humane way. The deer park drew controversy in late 2011, when the city of Harbor Springs had to thin herd of deer from 19 to five in the municipal park, which is less than an acre.

Previously, the city thinned the deer herd using a pistol and donated the meat to Manna Food Project.

In talking with a local veterinarian and experts from the humane society, Richards arranged to have the does in the herd given long-lasting contraceptives. The contraceptives will be administered by a dart gun, and will last 2-3 years.

"This way, we can manage the population instead of having to deal with overpopulation," he said.

Also at Monday's meeting — the first for newly-elected city council members Pringle Pfeifer and Matt Bugera — the Downtown Development Authority presented a plan developed in the months since consulting firm WadeTrim's assessment of Harbor Springs.

Included in the plan's draft are a few physical changes to the downtown area of Harbor Springs, including a waterfront improvement plan that "may replace some waterfront parking, tennis courts and the Harbor Master building" with improved facilities and ways to better use the space, according to the proposed plan.

But most of the group's suggestions were conceptual. First, the group recommended the hiring of a Downtown Development Authority director at a cost of approximately $50,000-$75,000 annually. WadeTrim suggested this move, making the point that a single leader of such a group was needed.

But among the most exciting suggestions, said Kathy Breighner, member of the Downtown Development Authority, is a formation of both a business recruitment and retention program and a business incubator.

"If we could add five, 10, 15, 50 jobs," the program would be successful, said Breighner.

The recruitment and retention program would provide information about available properties, business opportunities, demographic, and city permit and application processes, among other information. The incubator would provide spaces where businesses could get a foothold with little overhead. The Downtown Development Authority envisions attracting technology and other similar companies to its downtown.

But each of these would come at a cost. The recruitment and retention program might require $2,500 to develop and an additional $2,500 annually. The business incubator comes with an estimated price tag of $10,000-$15,000 annually.

So where will all this money come from?

Initially, private donations and grants will fund these positions, said Breighner and Downtown Development Authority chairman Rob Mossburg. After that, the projects could be funded by tax increment financing (TIF), said city manager Tom Richards.

In tax increment financing, the tax revenue earned when a piece of property increases in value is dedicated to redevelopment of other properties. New taxes are not levied against business owners or residents, but the increase in taxes that comes with the increase of property values is rerouted to helping out other sections of the city.

That's how the Downtown Development Authority was funded back in the 1970s and early 1980s, said Richards.

No city council action was taken on the development draft. Breighner and Mossburg were just presenting the plan to city council for feedback.

"This is a beginning for us," said Breighner. "We're so close to this, we would like some input."

"It's cautious, it's conservative, and I don't think the community will object," said Dika. "Carry on."

Finally, the council was given a 2012 amended and 2013 proposed annual city budget. Council will have a week to review the budget material and will meet again to discuss it at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, at the Harbor Springs City Hall.